Kotalik's shootout goal helps Sabres stay undefeated

Oct 14, 2006 - 2:22 AM
DETROIT (Ticker) -- Ales Kotalik and the Buffalo Sabres are off
to their best start in 32 years.

Kotalik scored the decisive shootout goal as the Sabres
preserved their perfect record with a 3-2 victory over the
Detroit Red Wings.

With their fourth straight win to open the season, the Sabres
are off to their best start since they opened the 1974-75
campaign with eight straight triumphs. It was already Buffalo's
third shootout win of the season.

Daniel Briere started the shootout by putting a shot past
goaltender Dominik Hasek's left pad before Detroit's Pavel
Datsyuk evened things by beating Ryan Miller. The Sabres missed
their next two attempts before Kotalik backhanded a shot over
Hasek's stick to seal the win.

"It's just a move I've been trying," Kotalik said. "I did it
right this time. It was a big two points."

The Sabres' four wins have each been by a one-goal margin, and
in this one, they had to fight back from a 2-0 deficit.

"We're a team that's desperate to stay in games," Sabres coach
Lindy Ruff said. "We came back and got the win. We deserve
credit for that, but at the same time, we've got to start
better."

Thomas Vanek and Chris Drury scored power-play goals in
regulation and Miller made 41 saves as Buffalo joined Minnesota
as the only teams with four wins.

"(Miller) made a lot of great saves when we were down and out,"
Ruff said. "Those saves allowed us to stay in the game and win
the game."

Miller, who is from nearby East Lansing, Michigan, wasn't
nervous despite facing a six-time Vezina Trophy winner in Hasek.

"It feels great, I'm happy to be back home and see the family
real quick," Miller said. "It was in and out and I'll see you
for the holidays.

"I don't really do anything to interact with Dominik Hasek. I
was just concerned about getting the win and beating the Detroit
Red Wings."

Jason Williams tallied twice for in the first period for
Detroit. The Red Wings were dismal on the power play, going
0-for-8 with the extra skater, but they did outshoot the Sabres,
43-17, including 31-8 in the first two periods.

"You come into play a real good team and you want to know where
you stack up," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We didn't
execute on our power play, any way you look at it, you have to
execute on the power play. Miller is their best player and he
kept them in the game."

Facing the team he starred with from 1992-2001, Hasek stopped 15
shots. The 14-year veteran is 4-1-1 all time against his
former team.